Self-regtstebing pressure gauge



Allg'. 21, T923.

J. A. BOWDEN SELF REGISTERING PRESSURE GAUGE Original Filed July 27, 1910 Patented Aug. 2l, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUNIUS A. BOWDEN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. SCHBADEBS soN, INC., or NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

Application led July 27, 1910, Serial No. 574.177. Renewed January 23, 1922. Serial No. 531,318.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known thnt l, JUQIUS A. BowDnN. u citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California. have invented new and useful Self-Registering Pressure Gauges, of which the following is :i specification.

This invention relates to pressure gauges i for determining the nir pressure. in pneumatic tires` and one of the main objects of the invention is to so construct the gauge that after it hns received the air pressure of the tire. the amount of such pressure will if@ he registered on the gouge. and such registration will remain even utter the gauge is removed from con'nnunicntion with the nir pressure of the tire. whereby the amount of pressure indicated on the gauge may be readily inspected by removing the gauge from the tire lMid holding` it in a more con- `renient and favorable position than is possible 'i''hen it is on the tire. The tire valve to which the gauge is applied may be lol cated in many different positions according to the position in which the wheel may lie, the nir vulve often lying in such a, position that. it is necessary to apply the gauge upside down, and it is very inconvenient and 3e is in .such position. Again. the wheel muy be in such u situation that the light is dim, or ,n applying the gauge in the dark Where thi@ @ange must be read when applied to tl; pri. it is necessary to brin a` light to the, gouge in order to read it, al of which .luiwulties are avoided with the present in- :option` us it may be easily applied to the *sive in order to receive the air pressure L without necessitating the use of a li ht` this operation being easily accomplis ed by touch, and utter the air has entered the gauge and operated 1the same` the gauge may be readily removed and carried to the light on the vehicle and the` pressure easily read. Furthermore. :is the pressure is registered b v the` gauge. such registrntionwill be main tained until it has been changed hy the operator As much time may he consumed in zending the registration as is ilcsired. While when the gauge must be rend wheh on the fire. only :i short time is generally available, urine to thf ,firent inconvenience in bendno over and properly` holding the fauve in the Correct position long; enough to ma e diflicnlt to read the pressure While the gauge.

the reading. Another advantage is that only :i moment-dry perfect connection need be made between the ,gauge and the valve of the tire. as the gauge will register the highest point of actual air pressure upon perfect communication being made, even if only momentary, und will not return to n lower point` while in that type of gauge which.must be read when applied to the tire. it often happens that when ut the moment of reading the gauge. the gouge may have been inadvertently displaced from perlect communication with thc valve. in which event :i less pressure will be registered at the moment of reading?r the gauge than is actually in the tire.

. The invention may be carried out in a vnriety of Ways, some of which l have indicated in the accompanying drawings in which:

` Figure 1 is a. longitudinal section through one form.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing another form.

Fig. 3 is n side elevation partly in section through another form.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of another form.

Fig. 5 is a. longitudinal section through another form. A

Fig. 6 an enlarged section on line a'e`w" Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is en enlarged section on line ir'-;v7 Fig. 3.

Fig. P is a side elevation in detail of the gauge bar in Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is u perspective view in detail of one of the spring lingers used in Fig. 3.

The gauge comprises en air cylinder 1 in which is a piston 2, n spring 3 bearing against the upper end of the piston 2. the upper end of the spring bearing against s. nut 4 screwed in the upper end of the nir cylinder 1. 'ThrI lower end of the air cylin der is provided with a hollow extension 5 which communicates with the interior of the nir cylinder l through n port (i, there being n stud 7 projecting.r down from the lower part of th(l nir cylinder l. which is adapted for pressing open the stem of the air vulve of the tire. when the gauge is applied thereto`r to permit nir to pass from the valve of the tire through the port 6 into the air cylinder l below the piston 2. In order to make an nir tight connection between the pressure gaugeand th-:i air ioxlveS l'. provide n packing 8 of rubber or other material arranged in the upper part of the hollow extension The purpose of the h ollow extension 51s to guide the air gauge when being moved into position over the air valve, and to maintain the air gauge in proper alinement with the air valve after it has been applied thereto, preventing the gauge from slipping oli'.

rlhe nut t has a head 9 between which and the upper end of the air cylinder 1 is a packing 10. which projects out beyond the outer wall of the air cylinder 1 to serve as a frictionul device to retard the sliding movement of a registering device which, in this form comprises a tube 11, which slides over the air cylinder 1, its inner wall being frictionally engaged by the packing 10, the lower end of the tube 1l being inwardly bent to bear with a sliding friction on the air cylinder 1 and thus properly guide the tube 11. 0n the upper end ofv the tube 11 is'a cap 12. A piston rod 13 is secured to the piston 2. and projects up through the air cvlinder l und -bears against the cap 12, so that as air enters the iiir cylinder 1 and forces up piston 2, the piston rod 13 acting against the rap 12 will slide the registering device 11 outwardly as far as the air pressure pushes the piston 2. The friction of the packing 10 is not sullicient to exert any appreciable resistance to the air pressure, it only being enough to carry the weight of the tube l1 and cap 12, which are very light. The object of the packing 1U is to prevent the return of the tube 11 after the air pressure has been removed from the piston, and the piston and piston rod have been returned by the spring to their normal position. the packing lll acting to maintain the registering tube 11 in the position into which it has been moved by the piston rod,

and to permit the registering tube 11 to be readily pushed back by hand at any time after the gauge has been read. The outer surface of the :iir cylinder 1 is provided with graduations and numerals 14 to indicate the pivssure corresponding to different positions of the piston. As the tube 11 is moved upward its lower edge reveals the numerals in sequential order so that: the numeral representing the highest point revealed by the lower edge of the tube 11 will indicate the air pressure within the tire.

In the torni shown in Fig. 2` the construction is similar. except that tube lla is formed with one or more `spring tongues 15, which serve to frirtionull)l bear against the air cylinder 1, and provide the necessary retarding effect in place of the packing 10 used in Fig. l` i ln th(l form showiuin Fig. 3 the retarding effect is produced liv u, air 0f spring fingers` 16, one of which is s wn in detail in Fig. 9. the `spring fingers 16 being secured to an extension 1T formed on the upper end of the nut 4, the spring fingers 16 bearing against the inside wall of the tube 11b.

In the forms shown in Figs', 4 and 5, a hollow nut 17 is screwed in the'upper end of the air cylinder 1, and spring lingers 16J are secured to the nut 17. n this form the registerin device 18 comprises a small tube which slies through the nut 17 and over the iston rod 13", the spring fingers 16 bearing against the registering device 18. As the piston rod 13a is moved outy by the piston, it moves out the registering device 118, and the latter having numerals on its outer surface, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, denotes the air pressure. The spring fingers 16 retain the registering device 18 in the position into which it is moved until it is restored manually.

The tension of the s ring 3 may be adjusted by moving the pllug (4, 4 or 17) at the end of the casing longitudinally.

that I claim is:

`1.111 a pressure gauge for pneumatic tires, the combination of a tubular casingl having one end thereof constructed to be applied to the valve casing of a tire, a plug adjustably fitted in the opposite end of the tubular casing and having an opening therein, a piston-mounted within the casing, a stem carried by the piston and passing loosely through the opening of the plug, e Spring arranged within the casing and interposed between the plug and the piston, the tension of the sprin being adjustable bv moving the lug, an a gauge member slidnbly mounted) upon the casing, the said gauge member being movable outwardly with the piston and remaining at the outer limit of its movement when the piston returns t0 normal position.

2. A pressure gauge comprising an air cylinder, means including a piston therein adapted to be operated by air pressure in one direction, means for moving said irstnamed means in the other direction, a regs istering device telescoping with the air cylinder on the exterior thereof rand operated by said first-named means, and means for retaining the registering device in the si tion in which it. is placed by said rstnamed means and permitting the free return of said first-named means.

3. A pressure gauge comprising an air cylinder, a piston therei'n` a piston rod on the piston, a lspringin the air cylinder bearing against the piston` and a registering tule; telescoping with the air cylinder und bearing against the piston rod.

4. A pressure gauge comprising rin air Cylinder, a piston therein, a piston rod on -the piston, a s ring in the-air cylinder bei rmg against te piston, a registering tube te escoping with the air cylinder and bearing ugalnst the piston rod, ami frietional means cooperating' with the registering tubei for holding it in the position set.

5. A tubular pressure gauge comprising an inner and outer casing, one end ot' the inner casing adapted to be connected with an inlet tube of a tire, the other end ofthe inner casing having a member fitted thereto, said member having a central guide opening, said outer'. casing telescoping over the inner casing, air pressure means in the inner casing adapted to force the outer casing away from its normal position, means at the outer end of the inner casingl bearing against the Vinner walls of the outer casing, said means holding the outer casing in thc position to which it is forced by the air pressure and said means holding 1t in such position after the nir pressure is olf.

6. A tubular pressure gauge comprising a casing, the inner end of said casing adapted to be connected with the inlet tube of a tire, a cover capping the outer end of said casing, a member connected to said casing approximately at t-he outer end of the lutter, air pressure means for forcing said cover beyond its norma-1 position on said casing, said member adapted to hold said cover` in the position to which it is forced by the air pressure and retain it in slfch position after the air pressure is cut o 7. In a tubular pressure gauge comprising an inner and en outerv casing, an edjustable nutadapted t0 be screwed into the outer end of the inner casing, said nut havingr a central. guide perforation for a piston rod, said nut having a spring attached thereto nt its outer end, and said sprin adepted to beer against the inner portion o the outer casing.

8. A pressure gauge comprising a plurnlity o telescopic members, the inner of said members havingr an air inlet, means for producing a relative movement between said members by and in accordance with air pressures exerted within the same and means for retaining said members in a changed relative position, such means carried by the inner member and operating against the outer member.

9. A pressure gauge comprising a plurality of telescopic members, pressure responsive means for producing relative movement between said members, the inner member constitnting an air chamber having an air inlet and the outer member being adapted t0 be moved relatively to the inner member, and means for retaining the outer member in varying positions on the inner member.

10. A pressure gauge comprising a tubu lar member, a pressure-responsive element therein, and a member sliding on the outside of seid tubular member adapted. to extend beyond the end of said tubular member and to telescope thereon, said telescoping member being actuated by seid pressure responsive element, und menus for retaining said telescopic member in actuated position, ll. Apressule gauge comprising n tubular member, u pressure-respons vc :number therein, and u member sliding on the exterior of said tubular member adapted to c tend beyond the end of said tubular member und telescope thereon, said tclescoping ineinber being actuated by said pre-seurc--responsive member, and means for retaining said :telesco ic member in actuated position.

12. pressure. gauge comprising u tubular lmember, a pr'essure-responsive member therein, e. member adapted to extend beyond the end of Suid tubular member und telescope therewith, said telescoping meuh ber being actuwted by said pressure-responsive member, and means carried by said tubular member adapted to retain seid telescoping member in actuated position. said means comprising a resilient metal part und means` for holding said part.

13. A pressure gauge comprising' a casing, a. presenreresponsive member, und s. sleeve on the exterior of said casing, adapted to extend beyond the end of said tubular incinber and tefescope thereon, said pressure-responsive member being adapted to heur against the top of said telescopic sleeve for `actuating the sume, und means for retaining;l said' telescopic sleeve in actuated position.

1f. A pressure gauge comprising s. casing, movable means within said casing and including n piston, a compression spring adapted to oppose motion of seid means, und a'slidable indicatingr sleeve adapted to bc actuated by said means, and to extend bcyond the end of the casing whenV actuated `and to telescope thereon substantially ben tween the ends of said casing.

15. A pressure gauge comprising a casing, a movable piston within said casing, a cornpression spring adapted to oppose motion of said piston. and an exterior slidablel indiceting sleeve adapted to be actuated by said piston, said sleeve being adapted to enn tend beyond the end of said casing und to telesco `e thereon, substantially between the ends o said '-casing. 1

16. A pressure gauge comprising a casing: open at one end and having means for connection with a. tire valve at the other end, movable means within said casing and including a pid'on, a. compression spring adapted to oppose motion of said movable means` said casing having thereon e removable abutment adapted to permit insertion of the spring and4 against which one end of the spring is adapted to bear when the abutment. is in place. and n. slidable ndicuting sleeve adapted to be actuated by said momble Ineens.

1?'. A gauge comprising an elongated casing, enti indicating sleeve telescoping with Suid casing and in indicating positions extending beyond said casing and rassurerrspousive means arranged wit in the gauge und adopted on the application of pressure to move Suid indicating sleeve tu its intended indicating positions, "said sleeve sliding alongthe exterior of said ,casingnnd being disconnected from said pressureuesponsive means so that it moves onlyoutwardly therewith. y

1H. A pressure gauge including a. tubular terminal head having means at one end for detuchuhly engaging en opening in a. 4fluid pressure container, a valve-engaging seat thereon. a barrel projecting fromihe terminal head und having exterior graduations thereon, s, cap applied to the outer end of the barrel. u plunger sliduble within the barrel, a Stein carried b v the plunger and passing slidably through the cap, a spring interposed between the cap und the plunger, au outer tubular shell telescoping upon the borrel und movable outwardly by the stem, said shell then (2o-operating with the gruduations on the barrel to indicate the pressure, and friction means carried by the beforementioned `rep for engaging the outer shell to hold it in an adjusted positionwhen the ilunger returns to the inner end of the nrrel.

19. A pressure gauge including n barrel, means carried by the barrel for detuehztbly engaging the opening of a, fluid pressure container, a rap applied to the barrel, a plunger slidahle within'the barrel, u. stem carried by the plunger and passing slidubly through the ce a. s ring resisting outward movement of tie p unger, a tubular outer shell lslidebly mounted u on the borrel und arranged to be engag und moved outwardly by the stem of the plunger, and friction means on the before-mentioned cap for holdin the outer shell in un adjusted ition w en the plunger returns to the inner end of the barrel.

20. A pressure gauge including a, barrel, means carried by one end of the barrel for detachably engaging an opening in a. fluid pressure container, friction means at the opposite end of the barrel, n. plunger sliduble within the barrel, a. spring resisting outward movement of the [plungen e siem rnrried by the plunger an adapted to be projected beyond the barrel when the plunger ls moved outwardly, and a, tubular shell mounted to telescope upon the exterior of the barrel and engaged by the stem of the plunger to be moved thereby, said tubular shell being also engaged by the beforemeutioned friction means upon the barrel so that it will be held in an ad'usted position upon the barrel when the plunger returns to the inner end thereof. l

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 21st day of July, 191D.

JUNIUS A. BOWDEN.

In presence of (l. T. llAonLnY, P. H. SHELTON. 

